ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the use of present tense in the German grammar. As in English, the present tense in German is primarily used to refer to present time. The present is also used to express habitual actions or in general statements not referring to any particular time. The chapter also describes the formation of present tense using regular verbs and irregular verbs. In addition to expressing present time, general time and habitual actions, the present tense can also be used to refer to past events, if the speaker/writer wants to create a feeling of immediacy, and this is often used in historical reports. Present participles in German are formed by taking the infinitive of the verb and adding -d, and are mainly used as adjectives. The chapter is designed for both classroom use and independent study, providing step-by-step approach to formation of present tense and multiple exercises for the students to rehearse and practise themselves.
